Delosperma plant named ‘WOW2011-1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Delosperma  plant, ‘WOW2011-1’, characterized by its compact and horizontal plant habit, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit, and its large flowers with yellow petals and yellow-green petaloids.

Botanical classification: Delosperma cooperi.

Variety denomination: ‘WOW2011-1’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed for plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDOY3’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,585), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDRY1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,588), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDAY2’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,587), Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDRW5’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,584), and Delosperma Plant Names ‘WOWDW7’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,577).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma cooperi ‘WOW2011-1’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘WOW2011-1’. The new cultivar of Delosperma is an herbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Delosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habits combined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flower colors.

‘WOW2011-1’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in summer of 2011 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from self crossing an unnamed plant from the Inventor's breeding program, ref. code HANADW1003, in summer of 2010.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings in summer of 2011 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘WOW2011-1’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘WOW2011-1’ exhibits a compact and horizontal plant habit.     -   2. ‘WOW2011-1’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming         flowering habit; blooming about 8 months.     -   3. ‘WOW2011-1’ exhibits large flowers with yellow petals and         yellow petaloids.         The parent plant of ‘WOW2011-1’, ref. code HANADW1003, differs         from ‘WOW2011-1’ in having a taller plant habit and in blooming         for a shorter time period. ‘WOW2011-1’ can be most closely         compared to the cultivar ‘Jewel of Desert Peridot’ (U.S. Plant         Pat. No. 23,566). ‘Jewel of Desert Peridot’ differs from         ‘WOW2011-1’ in having smaller flowers that are yellow in color         with white centers, in having a shorter bloom period, and in         having a shorter plant height. ‘WOW2011-1’ can also be compared         to cultivars with co-pending patent applications from the same         breeding program and are similar in plant height and in having         large flowers.         ‘WOWDAY2’ has flowers with petals that are red on the outer         region and yellow towards the center of the flower surrounding         yellow petaloids.         ‘WOWDRY1’ has flowers with petals that are magenta pink on the         outer region and yellow and white towards the center of the         flower surrounding yellow and white petaloids.         ‘WOWDRW5’ has flowers with petals that are magenta pink on the         outer region and white towards the center of the flower         surrounding white petaloids.         ‘WOWDW7’ has flowers with white petals and white petaloids.         ‘WOWDOY3’ has flowers with petals that are orange on the outer         region and yellow towards the center of the flower surrounding         yellow petaloids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in the photograph is 3 months in age as grown in a 9-cm container in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘WOW2011-1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘WOW2011-1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘WOW2011-1’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 3 months-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 9-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms for about 8 weeks from spring into             fall in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, well-spreading, prostrate.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 12.5 cm in height and about             22.3 cm in diameter.         -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.         -   Diseases.—No more susceptible or resistant to diseases than             other Delosperma cooperi varieties.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, primarily 161D in color.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth habit.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—144A, older stems between 151A and 195A.         -   Stem size.—10.2 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter, branch             internode length is 2.7 cm.         -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, moderately covered with             very short glandular hairs; average of 0.2 mm in length,             155C in color.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, average of 9 lateral             branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter, succulent.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface (upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,             slightly pubescent with very short glandular hairs, average             length 0.2 mm, 157D in color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 138B, young lower surface;             138B to 138C, mature upper surface; 137B, mature lower             surface; 137C.         -   Leaf size.—About 3.4 cm in length and 4 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 8 per lateral branch (4 pairs).         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary, rotate.         -   Flower number.—Average of 1 per lateral stem.         -   Flower fragrance.—Moderately faint, sweet and pleasant.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.         -   Flower longevity.—An average of 4 days.         -   Flower type.—Single.         -   Flower size.—Average of 2.6 cm in diameter and 0.7 mm in             depth.         -   Flower buds.—Elliptic to oblong in shape, average of 1.0 cm             in length and 5 mm in diameter, color; 137B with sepal             portion 145B, texture is smooth and glossy with sepal             portion smooth and matte.         -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape, margin entire, average of 5 mm in             length and 2.5 mm in width, broadly acute apex, broadly             cuneate base, surface is smooth and matte on upper and lower             surface, color; young upper and lower surface; 138B, base is             145B, mature upper and lower surface; 143B.         -   Petals.—An average of 36 per flower, rotate and slightly             curved arrangement, narrow oblanceolate in shape, smooth and             glossy on upper and lower surfaces, margin entire, apex is             obtuse-retuse, average of 1.1 cm in length and 1 mm in             width, color opening upper surface; 13A, opening lower             surface; 12A, fully opened flowers upper surface; 12A, fully             opened flowers lower surface; 12B, non fading; 157A at base             for petal.         -   Petaloid.—Rotate and placed around stamens, average of 15,             lanceolate in shape, margin entire, upper and lower surface             is glabrous and moderately to highly glossy, average of 4 mm             in length and 0.7 mm in width, color of immature and mature             surface; 8D, base 11D.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 5 mm in length and 1.5 cm             in diameter.         -   Peduncle.—1.3 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter, held             straight on top of lateral branch, color; 144C, surface             texture is slightly glossy and slightly pubescent.         -   Pedicel.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—About 5, average of 2 mm in length, triangular             shaped stigma, style is an average of 2 mm in length and             144B in color, and ovary is 143C in color.         -   Stamens.—Average of 80, anthers are dorsifixed, narrow             oblong in shape, average of 0.5 mm in length, and 12A in             color, filaments are 2.5 mm in length and 11D in color,             pollen is moderate in quantity and 6A in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the             conditions tested. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named ‘WOW2011-1’ as described and illustrated herein. 